Gary Owen column

ANY City fans who are going along to Eastlands on Saturday with the notion that 'it's only Birmingham' should get those thoughts out of their heads as quickly as possible. The Brummies know that they are not going to win anything this season and that staying in the Premier League is their priority. They have set out their stall accordingly.

ANY City fans who are going along to Eastlands on Saturday with the notion that 'it's only Birmingham' should get those thoughts out of their heads as quickly as possible.

The Brummies know that they are not going to win anything this season and that staying in the Premier League is their priority. They have set out their stall accordingly.

Steve Bruce has his side well organised and well motivated and anyone who thinks that they will be a pushover is barking up the wrong tree.

They were arguably the better side when they lost to United earlier in the season and managed a 0-0 draw at Anfield - a result with which any team would have been pleased with.

It is important after the international break that our players get back into the swing of Premier League football as quickly as possible and that fans are patient.

Birmingham have seen that we have scored three times in each of our last three games and will, no doubt, come to frustrate and play on the break. To do anything else would give Sven's side a big advantage.

Hopefully, Elano will have recovered sufficiently from his trip home for the World Cup qualifiers to play some part.

In keeping with his recent form, he scored a fine goal against Ecuador and although he only featured for about 15 minutes in the two matches that Brazil played, the question marks are not about his physical well-being as much as how the travel has affected him.

Since my last column, young Shaleum Logan has gone out on loan to Grimsby, which is an excellent move for the young man who showed plenty of promise in the Carling Cup.

He needs games at a consistently more competitive level and I am sure he will come back better for the experience he will have on the east coast.